Publications

COVID-19 brought to light the disparities among the nursing workforce that have been simmering in our health care system and highlighted the need for nurses to access emotional well-being programs with the intention of reducing emotional distress and burnout. In recognition of National Nurses Week, researchers have published a new report examining the findings from […]

Family violence and child abuse are deeply interconnected issues that can have lasting and severe consequences for children and families. In New Jersey, the state has taken significant steps to address these challenges through the Domestic Violence and Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) Policy. This policy provides child welfare professionals with essential guidance […]

As we have discussed throughout our previous blog posts, health insurance literacy—the ability to seek, obtain, understand, and effectively use health insurance information—is crucial for improving health outcomes and reducing unnecessary healthcare costs. Additionally, for any legislative solution to bring about true change, it is imperative that we also improve the communities’ understanding of this […]

In 2023 and 2024, the New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission released its annual report recommending sentencing reform across several areas of the justice system in New Jersey. To reduce racial disparities and increase fairness and equity for all, specific changes were recommended to four areas of sentencing reforms: 1) establishing a mitigating sentencing […]

As the New Jersey State Policy Lab (NJSPL) reaches its fourth anniversary, it is my honor to serve as the Executive Director, working with an incredible team of dedicated professionals to better understand and investigate policy issues impacting the state. The NJSPL was created as the result of a grant from the Office of the Secretary […]

If you’ve noticed more e-bikes around your neighborhood lately, you’re not imagining things. In 2022 alone, over one million e-bikes were sold in the United States—a 269% increase from 2019 (Vehicle Technologies Office, 2023). This surge isn’t just a passing trend; e-bikes are outpacing the growth of conventional bicycles and even surpassing the rise of […]

Nwede Chiamaka Stellamaris is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science degree in Public Affairs and Community Development at Rutgers-Camden.   I recently had a conversation with a Pre-K student in Camden, New Jersey who I noticed often seems distracted or tired, and at times, would not eat her lunch. Through my chat with […]

Agriculture has long been a vital element of New Jersey’s economy and food system, providing fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy, and products such as milk, cheese, and jams to local and regional markets. Despite its small geographic size, New Jersey remains one of the country’s most agriculturally productive states, with nearly 10,000 farms generating billions in […]

The purpose of this project is to identify and create a dataset of historical water bodies in New Jersey that have been altered by human development, with a focus on areas with a history of flooding and areas with combined sewer overflow (CSO) systems and explore the spatial relationship between these historical water bodies and both local flood vulnerability and CSO locations.

Internet access restrictions for prisoners have long been a complicated topic, particularly regarding the overarching goals and whose interests are served by these restrictions. By examining existing literature, we hope to grasp a better understanding of the purpose behind these restrictions and evaluate their implications on prisoners’ rights, rehabilitation, and societal reintegration. It is presumed […]

Perinatal depression is a significant public health issue in New Jersey and in the United States, with wide disparities by race and socioeconomic status. Evidence shows that perinatal depression adversely affects a range of children’s health and developmental outcomes and is correlated with negative health outcomes for mothers, yet little is known about potential policy […]

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically disrupted K–12 education. School staff across the country were faced with the unprecedented task of delivering high-quality instruction amidst a global health crisis. In New Jersey, approximately 15% of K–12 public schools managed to improve proficiency rates in math and/or English language arts (ELA) on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment […]